Let’s Connect

What? Work harder doesn’t always lead to success?

Now don’t get me wrong. We need to put in high quality work and sometimes that does mean long hours, hard work and pushing through even when fatigued.

But what I’ve found when I’ve coached many entrepreneurs, managers in organisations, staff wanting to get ahead and even volunteers- is that they often work harder and harder and wonder why others-who often are not as skilled as they are-get the opportunity. Or the promotion. Or the chance to attend or speak at a conference.

And why is that?

Often because those who get ahead are on LinkedIn. They take time to keep their profiles and a positive work history up to date. And when they change focus they adapt the profile to what currently lines up with who they want to connect with. Or clients or collaborations they would like to attract.

In today’s world we must take time to first, get on-line and secondly pay attention to our on-line profile, posts, comments and community building.

I even go as far to say it doesn’t matter if you are just a local florist. A local graphic artist. A senior manager or employee in any size public or private organisation. Or an entrepreneur who works out of a brick and mortar building or mainly on line. You must have an up to date presence on-line.

Why?

Because you never know how a global presence may present itself.

I have lost count of the number of people who have been approached on LinkedIn to be interviewed for a role in a country they always wanted to move to. Or approached for a perfect job in their own city. Or given an opportunity to speak at a conference. Or write an article. Or moving to a country or interstate that they’ve noticed a local graphic artist on LinkedIn whose profile is a great match with what they want and contact them to do business with them.

It is obviously just one spoke in the wheel of getting noticed but I am amazed at the number of people who either don’t keep their profiles up to date, or only have 2 connections and a work history that starts at 3 years ago. This can be more damaging than just staying off the platform.

So where do you begin?

Check your profile and be sure it is up to date and written in the tone that attracts the right people.

Review your work history and if you are moving into a new direction, think about aspects of your former work history that may have some aspect of skills or tasks that are now what you want to do full time.

Join relevant groups in LinkedIn that have people you want to connect with more. Make contributions in the group which demonstrate your knowledge and in some cases thought leadership.

Write supportive comments to people aligned with your direction.

Write occasional articles to post on LinkedIn to again give people some valuable information that will help them.

If you aren’t on LinkedIn start writing a brief profile summary and work history and think about others you want to connect with and invite them to connect.

And most importantly be authentic and true to yourself in what you write in your history, your profile and your comments.

Sound like a lot of pressure? This actually can be done fairly quickly and present yourself in a way that makes you shine authentically. Adaire Palmer and I are running a workshop in Adelaide on Saturday January 22nd to give you tips and strategies for Facebook and LinkedIn that will have you leave with easy tools to either get started or uplevel how you can get noticed even better on these platforms.

As I often say to clients and students I teach in grad school you’ve got to Get noticed for the right reasons in the right way by the right people. You don’t want to be invisible. And you don’t want to be pushy. You want to build a community and let people know what you have to offer. We need you and your work!

If you want your LinkedIn profile reviewed, updated and edited or written, email me at linda@lindachaousis.com As a writer and coach I help people get noticed in an authentic way and I have a special offer for Jan and Feb.